so portland and detroit have zero things in common it turns out? other than loads of michiganders living in both cities. and will likely follow very different paths? one falling into complete disrepair and the other won't? am i missing something.

"But the economic strength of Washington County, for example, continues to grow because of the focus of trying to bring jobs here and to do so in places that may be the cheapest."

Let's be clear about that: Washington County also got their transportation and infrastructure tax grandfathered in before Measures 5 and 50, so they can do a LOT more to create infrastructure for jobs and subsidize the environment for new companies to locate/expand there.

If you want to talk about local and regional economic development, it's really about revenue options, and Ms 5/50 fucked us on that.

Well we are in the same Forbes list for worse places to find a job. http://www.forbes.com/2010/11/18/best-wors…

Oh thank Gov. I was afraid they were going spend development money to try to build cars here without the infrastructure.